“Any guns of any kind on the train?”
“The baggage man up ahead has one, but I don’t suppose he would loan it to anyone.”
“There’s no harm in trying,” decided Bob, and he started forward through the train once more.
The conductor was in the last coach forward and Bob quickly explained what had happened. The trainman went ahead and tapped on the door of the baggage car.
It was opened cautiously and the baggage man stuck his head out.
“What do you want?” he demanded gruffly.
“Let us in,” cried the conductor and they stepped into the baggage car as a curtain of rain swept down off the roof of the train.
Bob displayed his badge and then told what he needed.
“I can’t let you have my service gun,” replied the baggage man, “but I’ve got a .22 target pistol I always carry along in my bag. You can have that if it will do you any good.”
“It’s pretty light. But it will be better than nothing,” decided Bob as the baggage man obtained the weapon and handed it to him.